Erwin, Bill 1914- (William Erwin, William L. Erwin)

PERSONAL

Full name, William Lindsey Erwin; born December 2, 1914, in Honey Grove, TX; children: two daughters, two sons. Education: University of Texas, Austin, bachelor's degree, journalism, 1935; Pasadena Playhouse, master of theater arts, 1941.

Addresses:

Agent—Jerome-Siegle Associates, 1680 Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90028; Talent Group Inc., 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048; Tisherman Agency, 6167 Forest Lawn Dr., Hollywood, CA 90068; Bobby Ball Agency, 4342 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City, CA 91602.

Career:

Actor. Worked as a child underwear model, c. 1918; stage manager for Edgar Bergen's U.S. tour, 1941; appeared in television commercial for Edy's ice cream, 1995. Military service: Army Air Force, captain, served during World War II.

Member:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (honorary life member); Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (honorary life member).

Awards, Honors:

Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest actor in a comedy series, 1993, for Seinfeld; Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters' Diamond Circle Award, 2004; Distinguished Alumnus Award, Angelo State University, 2004; Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, outstanding leading role, for Old Friends; four Drama-Logue Awards; Gilmor Brown Award for career achievement.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(As William L. Erwin) Howard Forman, The Velvet Touch, RKO Radio Pictures, 1948.

(Uncredited) Man, Easy Living, RKO Radio Pictures, 1949.

(Uncredited) Man, Double Dynamite (also known as It's Only Money), RKO Radio Pictures, 1951.

(Uncredited) Roy Higgens, Man From Del Rio (also known as The Man From Del Rio), United Artists, 1956.

(As William L. Erwin) Newspaper man, Fight for the Title (short), Rhino Video, 1957.

(As William L. Erwin) McDermott, The Night Runner, Universal, 1957.

(Uncredited) Sergeant, Jet Pilot, Universal, 1957.

(Uncredited) Bartender, Gun Fever, United Artists, 1958.

Mr. Wallace, The Cry Baby Killer (also known as Cry Baby Killer), Allied Artists Pictures Corp., 1958.

(As William L. Erwin) Hugh "Squint" Edwards, Terror at Black Falls, Beckman Film Corp., 1962.

Teacher, Under the Yum Yum Tree, Columbia, 1963.

Pastor, The Christine Jorgensen Story, United Artists, 1970.

Principal, Candy Stripe Nurses (also known as Sweet Candy), New World Pictures, 1974.

Sixth and Main, National Cinema Network, 1977.

Arthur Biehl, Somewhere in Time, Universal, 1980.

Dream On!, 1981.

Vincentio, The Taming of the Shrew, Century Home Video, 1983.

Alabama alumni, The Bear, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1984.

(As William L. Erwin) Orchestra conductor, Stewardess School, Columbia, 1986.

Man on plane, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Paramount, 1987.

Grandfather, She's Having a Baby, Paramount, 1988.

Dr. London, Silent Assassins, 1988.

Voice of grandfather, The Land Before Time (animated), Universal, 1988.

Man in airport, Home Alone, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990.

Old man, The Willies, Prism Pictures, 1991.

Coco, Night of the Warrior, Trimark, 1991.

Old man, Unbecoming Age (also known as The Magic Bubble), Castle Hill Productions, 1992.

Edward Little, Dennis the Menace (also known as Dennis), Warner Bros., 1993.

Priest, The Color of Evening, August Entertainment, 1994.

Conductor, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Paramount, 1994.

Seventy-year-old man, Things to Do in Denver When Your Dead, Miramax, 1995.

Pops, Just Your Luck (also known as Whiskey Down), PolyGram Video, 1996.

Monty, Art House, The Asylum, 1998.

Landers, Chairman of the Board, Trimark, 1998.

Murray, Forces of Nature, DreamWorks, 1999.

Eli Hamilton, Inferno (also known as Desert Heat), Ascot Video, 1999.

Harold, A Crack in the Floor, Starmedia Home Entertainment, 2000.

Janitor, Down 'n Dirty, 2000.

Himself, Back to "Somewhere in Time" (documentary), Universal Studios Home Video, 2000.

Frenchy, Cahoots, 2001.

Television Appearances; Series:

Various characters, Gunsmoke (also known as Gun Law and Marshal Dillon), CBS, 1957-74.

Glenn Hillman, a boarder, Struck by Lightening, CBS, 1979.

Various characters, Growing Pains, ABC, 1986-91.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

First businessman, Queen, CBS, 1993.

Television Appearances; Movies:

(As William Erwin) Dr. Ames, How Awful About Allan, ABC, 1970.

Harvey Wilkes, Huckleberry Finn, ABC, 1975.

Mr. Schneider, Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo, NBC, 1977.

Elvis, ABC, 1979.

Grandpa, Drop-Out Father, CBS, 1982.

Joe Greyfeather, Ghost Dancing, ABC, 1983.

Walt Henderson, Invitation to Hell, ABC, 1984.

Mailman, Love Leads the Way, Disney Channel, 1984.

Joe's father, On Fire, ABC, 1987.

Sam, The Entertainers, ABC, 1991.

Horace, The Webbers (also known as At Home with the Webbers and Webber's World), 1993.

Mr. Lewis, Menno's Mind (also known as Power.com), Showtime, 1996.

Loading dock man number two, Boycott, HBO, 2001.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Hunter, CBS, 1973.

Reverend, The Brady Girls Get Married (movie; also known as The Brady Brides), NBC, 1981.

Dr. Tucker, Moonlight, CBS, 1982.

Ezra Holloway, Lone Star, NBC, 1983.

General Garfield, Hard Knox, NBC, 1984.

John, Generation, ABC, 1985.

Search and Rescue, NBC, 1994.

Gordo's Road Show, 2004.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Specter Inspector, Henry Hamilton Graduate Ghost, ABC, 1984.

Grandpa, Comedy Central Thanxgiveaway: Turkey vs. Pilgrims, Comedy Central, 2002.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

(As William Erwin) "Crown of Wings," Hallmark Hall of Fame (also known as Hallmark Television Playhouse), NBC, 1953.

(As William Erwin) Herman, "The Dancers," The Philco Television Playhouse (also known as Arena Theatre, Repertory Theatre, and The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse), NBC, 1954.

(As William Erwin) First gambler, "Arroyo," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1955.

(As William Erwin) Carl, "Claire," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1956.

(As William Erwin) Poinsett, "West of the River," Cheyenne, ABC, 1956.

(As William Erwin) "The Long Sleep," Science Fiction Theatre 2, syndicated, 1956.

(As William Erwin) "The Man Who Didn't Know," Science Fiction Theatre 2, syndicated, 1956.

Brenner, "The Girl Across the Hall," Crusader, 1956.

(As William L. Erwin) Burn, "Lucy and the Loving Cop," I Love Lucy (also known as Lucy in Connecticut, The Sunday Lunch Show, and The Top Ten Lucy Show), CBS, 1957.

McGilbert, "The Vigilantes," Panic! (also known as No Warning), NBC, 1957.

Sergeant Riker, "Hit and Run," Richard Diamond, Private Detective (also known as Call Mr. D.), CBS, 1957.

"Madman on the Mountain," State Trooper, syndicated, 1957.

Sam Townley, "Time of Decision," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1957.

(As William Erwin) Joshua Morgan, "Episode in Darkness," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell';s "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1957.

(As William Erwin) Harte, "The Sunrise Gun," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1958.

Harper Bates, "Let the Man Die," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1958.

Dawson, "The Toll Road," Trackdown, CBS, 1958.

"The Big Dive," Sea Hunt, syndicated, 1958.

"Macreedy's Woman," Colgate Theatre, NBC, 1958.

"The Warning," Man With a Camera, ABC, 1958.

Jones, "The Ghost," Sugarfoot (also known as Tenderfoot), ABC, 1958.

Citizen, "Birds of a Feather," Have Gun—Will Travel, CBS, 1958.

Roger Jessop, "Dead or Alive," M Squad, NBC, 1958.

(As William Erwin) Clerk, "The Wager," Have Gun—Will Travel, CBS, 1959.

Joe Flecker, "The Pet," The Rifleman, ABC, 1959.

Clegg, "The Hunter Malloy Story," Wagon Train (also known as Major Adams, Trail Master), NBC, 1959.

(As William Erwin) Justin Peevy, "The Town That Wouldn't Talk," Tales of Well Fargo, NBC, 1959.

Man, "Price of Fame," Leave It to Beaver, ABC, 1959.

Cashier, "Fortune's Folly," The David Niven Show, NBC, 1959.

(Uncredited) Teller, "Lottery of Death," Bat Masterson, NBC, 1959.

(As William L. Erwin) Kelly, "Client: Brand," Black Saddle (also known as The Westerners), NBC, 1959.

"We Are All Suspects," Markham, CBS, 1959.

Manners, "The Arrival," Johnny Ringo (also known as The Westerners), CBS, 1959.

"Six Guns for Donegan," Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, CBS, 1959.

(As William Erwin) Gene Lasanick, "Death by Adoption," M Squad, NBC, 1959.

(As William Erwin) Dr. Palmer, "The Gibbet," Law of the Plainsman (also known as The Westerners), NBC, 1959.

Les Cosby, "The Dishonest Possee," The Texan, CBS, 1959.

Man, "Mr. Denton on Doomsday," The Twilight Zone (also known as Twilight Zone), CBS, 1959.

Paint store clerk, "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat," Perry Mason, CBS, 1959.

Morrison Findlay, "The Case of the Mythical Monkey," Perry Mason, CBS, 1960.

(As William Erwin) Minister "The Ox," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1960.

Sheriff Rand, "The Invisible Noose," The Texan, CBS, 1960.

"I Want to Be Heard," Coronado 9, 1960.

(As William L. Erwin) George Sapley, "Stranger in Town," The Andy Griffith Show (also known as Andy of Mayberry), CBS, 1960.

(As William L. Erwin) An investor, "Stranger in Town," The Andy Griffith Show (also known as Andy of Mayberry), CBS, 1961.

Luke, "The Ancient Art of Murder," Michael Shayne, NBC, 1961.

(As William L. Erwin) "Incident of a New Start," Rawhide, CBS, 1961.

(As William Erwin) Mr. Wood, "The Missing Statue," Mister Ed, CBS, 1961.

Clay Davis, "A Warm Day in Heaven," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1961.

Hotel clerk, "The Forbidden City," Maverick, ABC, 1961.

Peter Kramer, "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?," The Twilight Zone (also known as Twilight Zone), CBS, 1961.

Superintendent, "The Case of the Violet Vest," Perry Mason, CBS, 1961.

Autopsy surgeon, "The Case of the Pathetic Patient," Perry Mason, CBS, 1961.

George, "Girl in the Case," 87th Precinct, NBC, 1962.

(As William Erwin) Auctioneer, "The Cooker in the Sky," The Untouchables, ABC, 1962.

"When You See an Evil Man," Ben Casey, ABC, 1962.

(As William Erwin) Doctor, "Blues for a Gone Goose," The Untouchables, ABC, 1963.

(As William Erwin) Foreman "The Butcher's Boy," The Untouchables, ABC, 1963.

(Uncredited) Man in flashback, "Mute," The Twilight Zone (also known as Twilight Zone), CBS, 1963.

(As William L. Erwin) Doctor, "Sanctuary at Crystal Springs," The Dakotas, ABC, 1963.

"If There Were Dreams to Sell," Ben Casey, ABC, 1963.

Fire marshal, "Who Killed Purity Mather?," Burke's Law (also known as Amos Burke, Secret Agent), ABC, 1963.

Bevers, "A Matter of Destiny," The Virginian (also known as The Men from Shiloh), NBC, 1964.

Father Daley, "Their Own Executioners," Kraft Suspense Theatre, NBC, 1964.

Bar patron, "Scapegoat," The Fugitive, ABC, 1965.

(As William Erwin) Counterman, "The Case of the Sausalito Sunrise," Perry Mason, CBS, 1966.

Paxton, "The Plunderers," The F.B.I., ABC, 1966.

Counterman, "The Breaking of the Habit," The Fugitive, ABC, 1967.

Manager, "Genesis," The Invaders, ABC, 1967.

Hotel clerk, "Of Lasting Summers and Jim Sonnett," The Guns of Will Sonnett, ABC, 1967.

Jury foreman, "The Night of the Legion of Death," The Wild Wild West, CBS, 1967.

Mr. Smith, "The Mysterious Dr. T," Get Smart, NBC, 1968.

Prop man, "The Playground," Mannix, CBS, 1969.

"The Last Winter," Here Come the Brides, ABC, 1970.

Man at convention, "The Mynah Bird," Mayberry R.F. D., CBS, 1970.

Manager, "Deadly Reunion," The F.B.I., ABC, 1970.

"The Assassin," Dan August, ABC, 1971.

Manager, "The Deadly Gift," The F.B.I., ABC, 1971.

(As William L. Erwin) "The Girl in the Electric Coffin," Cannon, CBS, 1971.

Customs officer, "A Little Glory, a Little Death," Barnaby Jones, CBS, 1973.

Atken's defense counsel, "Echo of a Murder," Barnaby Jones, CBS, 1973.

"The Dead Samaritan," Cannon, CBS, 1973.

"Death of a Hunter," Cannon, CBS, 1974.

Senator Rogers, "The Conflict," The Waltons, CBS, 1974.

Cook, "Cliffy," The Rookies, ABC, 1975.

Cal Fitzpatrick, "Bradfordgate," Eight Is Enough, ABC, 1980.

Dr. Frederick Grover, "The Carousel," The Waltons, CBS, 1981.

Clarence Stovall, "The Great Bank Robbery," The Dukes of Hazzard, CBS, 1981.

Abel Greeley, "The Prodigal," Dallas, CBS, 1982.

T. J. Wheeler, "Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner: Part 1," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1982.

Grizzly veteran, "The Good, the Bad and the Nasty," The Optimist, Channel 4, 1983.

"Barriers of Sound," Voyagers!, NBC, 1983.

Sir Gavin MacLaish, "Highland Fling," Hart to Hart, ABC, 1983.

Night editor, "Power Play," Falcon Crest, CBS, 1984.

Mr. Williams, "Only a Nurse," E/R, CBS, 1984.

Ted, "Mona Gets Pinned," Who's the Boss?, ABC, 1984.

Santa Claus, "Thanksgiving at Mrs. Rossini's," Who's the Boss?, ABC, 1985.

Leon, "Yellow Submarine," Who's the Boss?, ABC, 1987.

Ben Frank, "Hands Across the Hall," Punky Brewster, NBC, 1987.

Hiram Massey, "Master the Possibilities," Married with Children, Fox, 1988.

Ralphie, "A Christmas Story," Just the Ten of Us, ABC, 1988.

Mr. Pruitt, "Who Cut the Cheese?," Just the Ten of Us, ABC, 1989.

Mr. Pruitt, "Simple Gifts," Just the Ten of Us, ABC, 1989.

Duncan Kennedy, "Perfect," Moonlighting, ABC, 1989.

Dr. Dalen Quaice, "Remember Me," Star Trek: The Next Generation (also known as Star Trek: TNG), syndicated, 1990.

Mr. Deever, "Hurricane—August 17, 1969," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1991.

Mr. Ferguson, "The Volunteer," Full House, ABC, 1991.

Mr. Wineke, "House of Cards," Knots Landing, CBS, 1991.

Mr. Hubbard, "Questions and Answers," The Golden Girls, NBC, 1992.

Sid Fields, "The Old Man," Seinfeld, NBC, 1993.

(Uncredited) Sid Fields, "The Pilot," Seinfeld, NBC, 1993.

Chick, "The Frightening Frammis," Fallen Angels, Showtime, 1993.

First man, "Jumping Off the Wagon," The John Larroquette Show (also known as Larroquette), NBC, 1993.

Against the Grain, NBC, 1993.

Noah Stark, Burke's Law, CBS, 1993.

William, Madman of the People, NBC, 1994.

Andy Tucker, "Operation Blackout," Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (also known as Lois & Clark and The New Adventures of Superman), ABC, 1994.

Chester, Mommies, NBC, 1994.

Jenkins, "Iowa vs. New York," Pig Sty, UPN, 1995.

Jenkins, "Tonight's Episode: May I Borrow a Cup of Death," Pig Sty, UPN, 1995.

Mr. Foster, "The Shake-Up," Living Single (also known as My Girls), Fox, 1995.

Vernon, "Towering Infernos," Live Shot, UPN, 1995.

Santa, "Foxworthy Family Feud," The Jeff Foxworthy Show (also known as Somewhere in America), ABC, 1995.

Bill, Cybill, CBS, 1995.

Old man Kravitz, Boy Meets World, ABC, 1995.

The cheating husband, The Louie Show, CBS, 1996.

Mr. Tidgely, "What a Card," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1997.

Older man, "Quentin Gets a Gun," Grace Under Fire, ABC, 1997.

Mr. Bradbury, "Drew vs. Mimi: Part 2," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 1997.

Victor, "The Unsinkable Nora Wilde," The Naked Truth (also known as Wilde Again), NBC, 1997.

"The 2nd Mrs. Buchman," Mad About You, NBC, 1998.

Mr. Flaherty, "The Nursing Home," The Michael Richards Show, NBC, 2000.

Mr. King, "Where's Poppa?," Just Shoot Me!, NBC, 2001.

Ronald Cruikshank, "The Women of Qumar," The West Wing, NBC, 2001.

"The Volunteer," So Little Time, ABC Family, 2002.

Hiram Hollings, "Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man," Monk, USA Network, 2003.

"Tank Heaven," The King of Queens, CBS, 2004.

Ollie, "Sick," Everwood (also known as Our New Life in Everwood), The WB, 2004.

Old man playing ping pong, "Van Hickey," My Name Is Earl, NBC, 2006.

Also appeared in "Final Approach," Flight.

Radio Appearances:

Sam Forstmann, "90 Years Without Slumbering," Twilight Zone Radio, syndicated, U.S., satellite radio, BBC, and American Forces Radio Network, 2005.

Stage Appearances:

The Professor's Love Story, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA, 1940.

The Merchant of Yonkers, Pasadena Playhouse, 1940.

Across the Board on Tomorrow Morning, Pasadena Playhouse, 1941.

Angels Amongst Us, Pasadena Playhouse, 1946.

Love's Old Sweet Song, Pasadena Playhouse, 1946.

Blind Alley, Laguna Beach Playhouse, Laguna Beach, CA, 1946.

Twentieth Century, Laguna Beach Playhouse, 1946.

Dear Ruth, Laguna Beach Playhouse, 1946.

Ten Nights in a Barroom, Laguna Beach Playhouse, 1946.

Twentieth Century, El Patio Theater, Hollywood, CA, 1946.

Diary of a Hometown Boy, Hollywood Star Theatre, Hollywood, CA, 1948.

Arsenic and Old Lace, La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA, 1950.

Summer and Smoke, La Jolla Playhouse, then Biltmore Theatre, Los Angeles, 1950.

Wind Without Rain, Circle Theatre, 1951.

Clutterbuck, Laguna Beach Playhouse, 1951.

Room Service, La Jolla Playhouse, 1951.

Broadway Jones, Pasadena Playhouse, 1951.

All the Way Home, Pasadena Playhouse, 1962.

Also appeared in Old Friends, Actors Forum; Guys and Dolls, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles; Member of the Wedding, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA; As Husbands Go, Geary Theater, San Francisco, CA; Light Up the Sky; Strictly Dishonorable; A Streetcar Named Desire; The Ladies of the Camellias; Another Part of the Forrest; A Gown for His Mistress; Hungry Mother Mountain; I Never San for My Father; You Can't Take It With You; Conversations with a Spanish Lady; Twisted Twain.

Major Tours:

Toured in The Pleasure of His Company.

WRITINGS

Stage Plays:

Wrote Twisted Twain.